Grave marker



June 14, 1932.

D. C. PEGLAR GRAVE MARKER Filed Feb. 11, 1952 INVENTOR Patented June 14, 1932 UNITED STATES DON C. PEG-LAB, OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE GRAVE MARKER Application filed February 11, 1932. Serial No. 592,418.

showing a preferred embodiment of the invent-ion,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the grave marker omitting the major portion of the staff Fig. 2 is a plan view of the base plate which is united to the top of the staff;

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the card retaining plate which is reniovably secured to the base plate;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line l4: of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. l; Fig. 6 is a plan view of the card shown enclosed within a transparent, weatherproof envelope; and

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross section of the transparent envelope and card.

Referring particularly to the drawing, T there is shown a staff 10 which may be of a piece of flat metal cutto form a point 11 at the lower end to facilitate its insertion in the soil. The upper end of the staff 10 is bent I at an obtuse angle, as indicated at 12, and supports a metallic base plate 13, which may be secured thereto, as by spot-welding. The base plate supports a card in a manner to be described, and as it is tilted at an angle to N the vertical, as shown in Fig. 4c, the card may be easily read from above without requiring the observer to stoop over.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the card 14 hearing the identifying data is completely en- F closed by a transparent envelope 15 made of celluloid or other waterproof material, and as there must be a different card for each grave marker, the cards are readily removable from the grave markers so that the grave markers may be used repeatedly. The envelope-protected cards are clamped between the base plate 13 and an outer card-retaining plate 16, shown separately in Fig. 8, said retaining plate being readily removable so as to facilitate insertion of a new card or removal of an old one.

The base plate 13 has an integral, marginal flange 17 at its upper end, said marginal flange being bent at an acute angle to the general plane of the base plate and extending downwardly from the top edge thereof so as to provide an inverted V-shaped recess into which the upper end of the card-retaining plate 16 may be inserted. The lower end of the retaining plate 16 has readily bendable fingers or cars 18, which, when bent around the lower edge of the base plate, as shown in Figs. 1 and l, secure the retaining plate to the base plate, the marginal flange 17 also assisting in holding the retaining plate inposition. 0 In order to realize economies in manufacture, the two [plates 13 and 16 are of exactly the same dimensions and shape and hence may be out from the same stock. To stiffen the two plates, there is a bead or semi-rounded portion 19 on each plate, and preferably the bead extends around three sides only of each plate, the top portion having no bead, this arrangement facilitating the insertion of the upper edge of theouter plate 16 underneath the flange 17 The beads 19 also effect an interlocking of the two plates, as will, be clearly .understood by referring to Figs. 1 and 5, lateral movement of the two plates relative to each other being prevented in conjunction with the interlocking action of the flange 17 and the bendable fingers 18. Another advantage of the beads 19 is that they space the outer plate slightly from the base plate, this being due to the fact that the beads on both plates are of exactly the same dimensions and hence the bead on the base plate may not nest perfectly within the bead on the outer plate, there being a space left between the two, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This space is very desirable because it .permits insertion of the card, even when protected by a relatively heavy celluloid or other transparent envelope, and the card may be retained securely in position by a clamping action effected by the securing of the outer plate in position.

To facilitate the proper positioning of the card, the base ,plate is provided with a raised central portion 20 and the outer or retaining plate has a central aperture 21 of somewhat smaller dimensions with a raised border 22 forming a sort of a frame for the card. The raised border 22 also interlocks with the inclined walls of the raised portion 20, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The described grave marker is not only inexpensive to manufacture, but will remain serviceable for a long time and will hold the card in a proper position without any possibility of the card slipping down out of sight, will shed nearly all of the rain water which may fall upon its face and will permit what little water enters the space between the two plates to drain oil, thus minimizing deterioration because of rust. Furthermore, the card itself is protected for a long time against the weather and thus the device may be used with entire satisfaction until such a time as the family of the deceased may be able to mark the grave with a permanent monument.

Obviously, the present invention is not re stricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described.

hat I claim is 1. A grave marker comprising, in combination, a metallic stafi whose lower end is pointed and whose upper end is bent at an obtuse angle; a metallic base plate spot-welded to the bent upper end of the staff; said base plate having a marginal flange along its upper edge which is at an acute angle to the plane of the base plate and overhangs the base plate; a card-retaining plate the upper edge of which is received between said marginal flange and the base plate, said retaining plate being of substantially the same shape and size as the base plate and having integral bendable ears projecting from its lower edge which are adapted to be bent upwardly, underneath the base plate; and co-operating means on both plates to prevent shifting of the retaining plate on the base plate.

2. A grave marker comprising, in combination, a metallic staff a metallic base plate secured to the upper end of the staff, said base plate having a marginal flange along its upper edge which is at an acute angle to the plane of the base plate and overhangs the base plate; a card-retaining plate the upper edge of which is received between said marginal flange and the base plate, said retaining plate being of substantially the same shape and size as the base plate and having integral bendable ears projecting from its lower edge which, when bent upwardly, co-operate with said flange to hold the retaining plate in position; and strengthening beads formed on both plates, said beads being of the same dimensions and engaging each other when the retaining plate is placed over the base plate, so that both plates may be formed from the same stock.

3. A grave marker comprising, in combination, a metallic staff; a metallic base plate secured to the upper end of the staff said base plate having a marginal flange along its upper edge which is at an acute angle to the plane of the base plate and overhangs the base plate; a card-retaining plate the upper edge of which is received between said marginal flange and the base plate, said retaining plate being of substantially the same shape and size as the base plate and having integral bendable ears projecting from its lower edge which, when bent upwardly, co-operate with said flange to hold the retaining plate in position; said base plate having a raised central portion for supporting a name card; said retaining plate having a central aperture for exposing such a card and a raised border around said aperture, said raised border cooperating with the raised central portion of the base plate to hold the name card; and strengthening beads formed on both plates, said beads being of the same dimensions and engaging each other when the retaining plate is placed over the base plate, so that both plates may be formed from the same stock.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

DON O. PEGLAB. 

